By Ariel C. Emberton, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. - “I believe the Bible is truth,” Lonnie Riley, of Meridzo Ministries, said. Riley spoke recently at Campbellsville University's chapel in Ransdell Chapel.
Debbie Carter, Carver School of Social Work and Counseling director of recruitment and community relations and assistant professor of social work, introduced Riley and called him a “true servant leader.”
Carter said she and her husband, Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of Campbellsville University, have had the privilege of knowing Riley for many years.
Riley discussed how the Bible is the living word and how it is up to us to decide how we want to use it. For part of the service, Riley focused on the book of John, chapter six. In this chapter, Jesus feeds the 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish. Riley said Jesus didn't do it for the miracle but instead he gave out the loaves and fish so they could see what he is capable of doing.
During the time of Christ, people asked what they could do to perform miracles like him. They were taught, and learned, that through prayer God would deliver. “He is so real and wants to be real in you,” Riley said.
Riley also spoke about a time God was working in his life. Around Christmas one year, Riley and his wife found cookie dough had been delivered to their house and left outside. The temperatures were cold but the dough was thawed. Riley and his wife knew it couldn't be refrozen and questioned what they were going to do with all the thawed dough.
They decided to cook Christmas cookies and deliver them to the houses around Harlan County. When asked by their neighbors why they had done this, Riley and his wife said, “God wants you to have these Christmas cookies.”
From Riley's first-hand experience, he was able to provide those in attendance with a metaphor for life. He said everything God gives us is cookie dough. When we get our cookie dough we have to decide if we want to use it for our own reasons or for the glory of God. “If we use it for us, our supply is simply cut off. If we use it for him, there will be a continuous supply,” Riley said.
Riley believes that all we have to do is believe and God will show us what the next step is. He said, “God is never late or early. He is always on time.”
Meridzo Ministries is made up of a variety of businesses. The ministry includes Calvary Camps, Faithfully Fit Gym, God's Creatures veterinary clinic, Lamp House Coffee Shop, The Stables at Creekside, Solomon's Porch Retreat Center and many more. He is married to Belinda Riley and both reside in Lynch, Ky.
For more information about Meridzo Ministries visit http://meridzo.com.
Campbellsville University is a widely-acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 10,000 students offering over 90 programs of study including 20 master's degrees, six postgraduate areas and seven pre-professional programs. The university has off-campus centers in Kentucky cities Louisville, Harrodsburg, Somerset, Hodgenville and Liberty with instructional sites in Elizabethtown, Owensboro and Summersville, all in Kentucky, and one in Costa Mesa, Calif., and a full complement of online programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.